"The subject assigned me tonight may seem at first glance to be of small importance but when we remember that at least three quarters of all the enlisted soldiers of our armies were some time an inmate of those field hospitals we can readily see how necessary they were to the success of the army.

The fist would be powerless to strike without the arm and the body behind it. So the army would be nearly powerless without the teamster to carry along the rations and the ammunition and supplies; the pioneers to build our roads and bridges and lay our pontoons; and lastly the field hospital to care for wounds and sick until such times as they could be sent to permanent hospitals in the rear.

There have been many stories written of the heroism of the men who stormed Lookout Mountain or held the bloody angle at Gettysburg – all honor to them; but surely we should not forget the men who through storm of shot and shell took a wagon load of ammunition to the front to fill the empty cartridge boxes or the men who laid the pontoons under fire or of the trained nurse who faced the deadly Typhus fever of camps – the black measles the small pox – or the infection of gangrene, far deadlier than rebel bullets. I have seen men refuse to charge the rebel works, but I have never seen a trained nurse refuse to care for those suffering from the most deadly disease. Nearly three men died in the army by disease where one was killed by a bullet.

The Second Div. 20^th A.C hospital in the field was the best equipped of any in Sherman’s Army and a description of it and how it was run may prove interesting to you tonight. At its head was an old surgeon of experience assisted by seven assistant surgeons -- one chief steward who drew all medical supplies and distributed a portion to each regiment in the Div. and also had general charge of the hospital – two dispensing stewards – four clerks who kept a complete record of every case in the hospital about twenty nurses and cooks –and about he same number of pioneers, who cleared the ground and erected the tents and made themselves generally useful -- an ambulance corps of 10 ambulances and 20 stretcher bearers to carry the sick and wounded -- one medical wagon and ten army wagons to carry tents and medial supplies. These men were picked men and under proper officers were under as good discipline as any crack regiment. Every man had his particular duty to do.

On the march, the sick and wounded were carried in ambulances and wagons and but little could be done for them except to give them water and something to eat at dinner time. When it was near camping time the surgeon would ride on ahead and pick out some good camping ground, near water if he could, and pioneers would clear the ground of brush and logs. The wagons would all draw up in line all facing one way and about thirty feet apart.

The ambulances would form another line parallel to the wagons and about on hundred feet from them. Between these the white hospital tents would arise as if by magic. Upon the ground large rubbers would be spread and then blankets. Then the poor sick and wound men would be unloaded and placed upon them. The flaps of the tent would be thrown back and a large fire built in front of each tent, giving it a cheerful look. The patients were washed and fed. The doctor and steward would go around and see who needed medicine and nurses were stationed to care for them during the night.

Hospital in the field: First a good location is chosen and our white tented city is laid out with great regularity with streets well swept and drained by ditches. Everything is kept scrupulously clean. Two rows of cots are built in each tent with an alley way in the center. The cots were built by driving four crotched posts with sticks across at each end. Upon these we put hoop poles. Upon these fine brush, then blankets. Two nurses were detailed for each tent. They were required to be quiet. No whispering or talk. They give the patient his medicine regularly, write the patient letters and care for all his wants. Nourishing food is given. The doctor and hospital steward are around many times a day.

Hospital in action: We send to the rear all the sick and wounded if possible. We have moved up with the soldiers. The wagons are all sent to the rear except the medical wagon. The action begins. Soon the stretcher bearers bring in the wounded or the wounded hobble back using their guns for crutches. Some spot is chosen near the line of fire. The pioneers clear the ground of brush and logs and the wounded men in rows on the ground with just room to pass between. All the doctors stewards and nurses are busy doing up the wounds with bandages, tying arteries and removing bullets. The amputation table is place beneath some tree and two old surgeons are cutting off the legs and arms of those badly wounded. The stretcher bearers continue to bring in the wounded who are calling for water, water. The pioneers area busy bringing it. Soon we have hundreds of wounded and dying. The firing increases and comes nearer. Our lines are pressed back. Bullets fly thick and fast in out hospital and amid the leaden hail the wounded are moved to the rear to a place of safety. If the army presses the enemy back, soon we have hundreds of rebel wounded to care for in addition to our own.

"Wounded were evacuated from the front line by stretchers similar to those used today. As soon as possible, the more severely wounded were placed in ambulances of which the most common type was the two-horse. This ambulance was a stout spring wagon with two leather covered seats the whole length. Hinged to the inner sides of these seats was a third leather covered seat which could be let down so that men could sit facing each other or three men could lie down length wise. In the rear of each ambulance under each seat was a water keg, and in front under the driver’s seat was a supply of beef stock and hospital stores. On each side of the ambulance was hung a canvas covered stretcher. The whole ambulance was neatly covered with white canvas bows.’ "They Fought For The Union" by Frances A. Lord, Bonanza, 1960

"The ambulance trains were manned by officers and men detailed from the line. Each corps had its own ambulance train; in 1863 each corps in the Army of the Potomac had three trains (one per division); each train was equipped with 40 two-horse ambulances. The ratio of distribution of ambulances was about three per regiment. The forage and rations for the ambulance train were carried in four-horse wagons. Enlisted men were selected for the ambulance duty proportionately from the regiments. Each ambulance and wagon had a driver and two stretcher bearers. In addition, each train had several blacksmiths and supernumeraries. The total force of the ambulance corps for an army corps was 13 officers and from 350 to 400 men, commanded by a captain. Each division train was commanded by a first lieutenant, assisted by a small number of second lieutenants and sergeants. All were mounted. In some corps a few older type four-horses ambulances could be found. The majority of wounded who had to travel by rail went in coaches or flat cars, but hospital cars were used with greater frequency as the war went on. The use of hospital boats was limited to four of the sea-going type although many smaller hospital craft operated on the inland lakes and rivers." "They Fought For The Union" by Frances A. Lord, Bonanza, 1960

MEDICAL DIRECTOR’S OFFICE
Eleventh Corps, Army of the Potomac
Stafford C. H. Va. March 29^th 1863

Sir:
It has just been brought to my knowledge that 2^nd Lieutenant Onan of Company C 154^th Regiment N.Y. Vols, has been ordered before a military Board of Examination, to test his military knowledge etc. ___

He is at present chief of ambulances to the 1^st brigade of the 2^nd Division of this Corps. He has sufficient capacity for the duties he is at present assigned. Altho perhaps in other respects he may not be very bright for the usual military duties. I think that the interests of the service will be promoted by retaining him in his present position. He has now learned his duties with the ambulance corps. & if found deficient by the Board on other subjects he will probably be dropped and then we will have to have another officer detailed in his place, who in turn will have to learn the ambulance business.

Very Respectfully,
Your obedient Servant
[signed] Geo. Stuckley
Surgeon, U.S. Vols.
Medical Director
Eleventh Corps.
Surgeon Jona Letterman, Med. Director will [???]

Head Quarters ambulance Corps 1^st Brigade ? Div
11 Corps Lookout Vally, Tenn. Feb 6, 1864

Brig Gen. Wm L Whipple

Sir I would respectfully ask leave of absence for (20) twenty days to go to Allegany, Cattaraugus New York on important public and private business which requires my personal attention at home. With the exception of four days at home, I have been in the Servis of the U.S. as a Vol. For Eighteen Month and for eight years previous to my entering the army I held an official position as Justice of the Peace, and during that time I entered over two thousand judgments, many of them unsettled, and a large number of them will expire by the Statute of Limitations between now and first of June next. And its my duty as Such officer to transfer Such Judgments to the County Clerks office, which will prevent a large loss to many persons, who have depended on my attention in[?] the matter

Yours Respectfully
Warren Onan Lt 154
NYV amb Corps 1^st Brigade 2^nd Div

Head Qurs Amb Corps 2 Brig 20^th Corp
Atlanta Ga Sept 20^th 1864
Gen.

I have the honor to most respectfully request that leave of absence be granted me for 20, Twenty days. As per Gen order No 19 C.S. To proceed to Cattaraugus County N.Y. for the purpose of visiting my family and providing for their comfort during the coming winter. P.O Address

Alleganay
Cattaraugus County N.Y.
To W. D. Whipple
Brig Gen A.A.G.
Dept of the Cumberland
I am very respectfully
Your Obt Servt
[signed] Warren Onan 2 Lt - 154 N.Y.V.
Comndg Amb Corps 2^nd Brig 2^nd Div 20 Corps

State of New York
County of Cattaraugus

To whom it may concern

I Warren Onan, Lieut of 154^th Regt NY Volunteers and commanding ambulance corps 2^nd Division 11^th Army Corps Do hereby certify that I was present at the battle of Gettysburgh in July 1863 & was acquainted with Sergeant Lewis Bishop of Co. I. 154 NY Vols & that said Bishop was engaged in said battle as flag bearer for said 154 Regt & that said Lewis Bishop while in the line of his duty and in the faithful performance of his duty as color bearer was wounded by a musket ball passing through both legs and that I took charge of said Bishop and provided for him as well as possible at the time but that it became necessary to amputate one of his legs and that he died in space two or three weeks after being wounded as above stated, and that I have no doubt that he died from the effect of said wound

Warren Onan Lt 154
Regt N. Y. V. Com act Cpt
2d Div 11 Corps